Three-Peat Falls Short

Although getting back to the title game for the third straight season, No.4 Wisconsin could not recapture that magic, falling to Minnesota Duluth for the fifth time this season.

DULUTH, Minn. - The Wisconsin women's hockey team's bid for a third
straight NCAA title fell short when it dropped a 4-0 decision to
Minnesota Duluth in the national championship game Saturday afternoon at
the DECC.

Junior goalie Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.) made 20 saves as the
Badgers finished their season with a 29-9-3 record.

On the other end, Kim Martin turned aside 28 shots for Minnesota Duluth
(34-4-1), which won its fourth national championship and first since
2003.

UMD jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a controversial goal in the final minute
of the opening period. Haley Irwin found a loose puck in front of the UW
net and flipped it past Vetter during a delayed penalty, however a
whistle was heard around the same time as when the puck went into the
net. Following a review of the play, the goal was allowed to stand and
the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Bulldogs once again capitalized on a scramble in front of Vetter's
crease midway through the second period. This time it was Emmanuelle
Blais who pounced on the loose puck and extended the UMD lead to 2-0.

Sarah O'Toole increased the lead to 3-0 with a shorthanded goal late in
the middle stanza. O'Toole intercepted a UW pass, skated in alone and
beat Vetter for her ninth goal of the season.

Minnesota Duluth went on to add an empty-netter in the final three
minutes as head coach Mark Johnson pulled Vetter for an extra attacker
in the final minutes.

Wisconsin finished the game 0-for-10 on the power play while UMD went
1-for-6.

Junior Erika Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass.) was Wisconsin's lone
representative on the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team. Lawler had a goal
and an assist in Duluth, both during Thursday's 4-1 semifinal win over
Harvard.